Everland ups the spectacle, brings nature closer as Korea's biggest theme park turns 50

Turning 50, Korea's largest theme park, Everland, is making every moment a spectacle by elevating its core experiences to new heights.

Everland's new circus show "Wings of Memory" [EVERLAND]

YONGIN, Gyeonggi — Duo performers spin one another like basketballs. A tiger moves through a forest-like enclosure. By night, fireworks burst to K-pop beats. Turning 50, Korea's largest theme park, Everland, is making every moment a spectacle by elevating its core experiences to new heights.

Buoyed by mild, rain-free weather in recent weeks, as well as the Tulip Festival and the soft opening of its fireworks show, the amusement park in Yongin, Gyeonggi, has already drawn around 250,000 visitors since Feb. 20, an on-year increase of 30 percent.

The first major transformation begins at the Grand Stage, where Everland's new circus show, "Wings of Memory," comes to life.

Created in collaboration with Cirque Éloizev, a globally renowned circus company that has staged over 7,000 performances across 700 cities, and featuring performers with experience in "Cirque du Soleil," the show moves beyond a simple string of high-level acts to tell a story.

It follows E.L, the young protagonist who is drawn into a magical world after encountering a mystical swan — one that glides and flies across the stage, delicately controlled by a performer. From there, the narrative unfolds, blending high-level acts and dances performed by 24 performers.

Everland's new circus show "Wings of Memory" [EVERLAND]

An Icarian games performer spins a fellow performer like a ball, while contortionists fold into impossible shapes. Swirling flames add a bit of tension, while the Russian swing sends bodies soaring. Acrobatics, video, rhythmic music and special effects come together seamlessly for 40 minutes, making every part of the show visually exciting and engaging.

The show is performed twice daily at 3:30 p.m. and 5:40 p.m. Visitors with an admission ticket can watch it free of charge. Bringing the wild closer

After about a year of preparation, Safari World — one of Everland's most popular attractions since 1976, visited by roughly three out of 10 guests — has been recreated with a clear philosophy: better lives for animals and a better experience for visitors.

A Korean tiger living in Everland's Safari World [EVERLAND]

Waterfalls trickle through habitats. Ponds and vegetation stretch across wider enclosures. Rocks and climbing structures allow digging, roaming and resting.

The habitats have been expanded to give animals more freedom, with new environmental elements designed to encourage natural behaviors.

Where the previous setup focused on up-close viewing of eight types of predatory animals, including lions, tigers, hyenas and bears — often with staff drawing them near the safari buses using food — the new environment prioritizes animal welfare, allowing visitors to observe them in more natural settings.

"Our animals will now be able to greet visitors in a more beautiful, healthy and happy state within their newly improved ecological environment," said Jeong Dong-hee, Everland's zoo director, during a tour with reporters held Tuesday for a firsthand preview of the new offerings.

The experience unfolds across themed zones inspired by the animals' habitats: the open plains of "Savanna Grassland" for lions, the tense, shadowy "Predator Forest" for tigers and the rugged "Northern Forest" for brown bears.

An EV bus drives around Safari World [EVERLAND]

Inside newly upgraded EV buses — quieter, smoother and fitted with larger windows — visitors are guided through the landscape.

The driver, who doubles as a guide during the tour, calls out, "Doctor!" Soon after, a recorded "doctor" voice fills the bus with facts.

"Male Korean tigers can reach up to 3.3 meters [10.8 feet] in length and weigh as much as 370 kilograms [815.7 pounds]," the voice explains. While watching the animals is fascinating, the added narration — with both the guide and the "doctor" explaining their characteristics — further enhances the experience.

Merchandises available at Everland's Safari World merchandise shop [WOO JI-WON]

At the merchandise shop, visitors can also "adopt" animals through themed plush dolls — including Korean tiger Daun and lion Doba, the live versions of which actually reside at the zoo — each complete with an adoption certificate.

K-pop meets fireworks

But the biggest surprise happens after sunset.

At 9:18 p.m., all the lights and signboards of buildings near Four Seasons Garden go out. Two minutes later, Everland's new multimedia fireworks show begins.

Everland's new multimedia fireworks show [EVERLAND]

Sound echoes from every direction. A massive screen flickers to life, accompanied by bursts of fire and light.

Titled "The Guardians of Light," the show blends K-pop, storytelling and cutting-edge visuals as well as drones to become something closer to a live concert than a traditional fireworks display.

Directed by Yang Jeong-woong, known for large-scale productions such as the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics opening ceremony and the cultural performance for the 2025 APEC summit in Gyeongju, the show follows a character named Lenny, with narration by actor Lee Sang-yoon bringing the story to life.

Customed characters dance on a stage during the fireworks show [WOO JI-WON]

Drones move during the fireworks show [WOO JI-WON]

Characters dance to upbeat K-pop genre tracks, including a theme song sung by Kwon Jung-yeol of 10cm. Costumed characters also burst onto a central stage near the audience, dancing to the music.

"This time, we recorded with a full orchestra to create a richer, more immersive sound," said Kim Hee-jin, Everland's creative director.

During the show, drones with character dolls onboard glide overhead. Laser projections ripple across the sky. Fire bursts in sync with the storyline.

For most of the show, the fireworks remain restrained. Then comes the finale, when thousands erupt at once, filling the sky with colors and delivering a satisfying, memorable end to the night.

Everland's signature tulip festival held at Four Seasons Garden [EVERLAND]

Meanwhile, Everland's signature Tulip Festival is already drawing crowds.

This year, the focus is simpler: the flowers themselves. Fewer installations, more tulips spread across the park. At night, the garden transforms again, illuminated through a collaboration with British media artist Bruno Munro.

The Tulip Festival runs through April 30.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]